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By Kathryn Fourie

Take me away to hills of green…Stretches of sand so yellow and clean…Nguni Cows that graze and moo…While they happily saunter, chew and poo…A sea filled with creatures so wild…Some are ferocious and some are mild…Fish on the braai, beers from the shebeen…A rather rare and tranquil scene…Yes, take me away down potholed roads…We’ll bounce our way, And come what may…We’ll find our way to Mdumbi Bay… (more…)

By Dianne Bayley

I’ve travelled to many places around the world. Driven in some of them, been driven around in others, and been driven crazy in my own back yard. So, while South African drivers aren’t the worst in the world, we are heading that way. Here, then, is a note to some of my fellow drivers . . . (more…)

By Bridget Hilton-Barber

At the base of the Soutpansberg mountain lie the ancient salt pans that inspired Voortrekker leader Louis Trichardt to name South Africa’s northernmost range. Some mountains yield diamonds, some bear gold. The only mineral deposit ever found here was salt. Which is admittedly not the same as a girl’s best friend, but imagine life without it? What on earth would you lick before you downed a shot of tequila? (more…)

By IT-Online.co.za

Samsung Electronics South Africa’s free WiFi access service, at the more than 1 000 local AlwaysOn hotspots, is available for its customers.

The service was announced at last month’s Samsung Africa Forum. Customers will be able to register any of their Samsung WiFi-enabled smart devices purchased after March 2010 for the free WiFi service – giving them 1Gb of free AlwaysOn WiFi data every month for 12 months, per Samsung device that they own.

“This partnership with AlwaysOn enables us to provide our customers with a premier WiFi access service that is designed to meet their mobile connectivity needs in what today is very much a digital age.

“Our customers are now able to gain additional value every month using the country-wide AlwaysOn network in conjunction with their 3G connections – by connecting via the AlwaysOn network,” says George Ferreira, VP and chief operations officer at Samsung Electronics Africa. (more…)

For all those who made Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow one of the most popular TV shows in South Africa – don’t miss him live in Joburg and Cape Town.

One of the top comedians in the UK, McIntyre will be delighting South Africans at The Grand Arena in Cape Town and The Dome in Johannesburg on the 19 & 20 April respectively.

The bouncy, jovial Brit’s tour in 2012 got him into the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest selling comedian with ticket sales of over 700 000 in the United Kingdom alone. Take friends, take family – mostly, take your sense of humour. This is going to rock!

Grand Arena, Grand West, Cape Town, Western Cape
Thu 18 Apr 13 8:00 PM (Open)
Fri 19 Apr 13 8:00 PM (Open)

The Coca-Cola Dome, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Sat 20 Apr 13 8:00 PM (Open)

Book now at Computicket

An apprentice sangoma, or diviner, training to become one of KwaZulu-Natal’s experts in traditional medicinal plant use. The Durban Muthi Market is where you will see traditional medicine, or muthi, being made and prepared for sale. (Image: South African Tourism)

Three market areas ‘ one a matter of a few city blocks, one a suburb, one an entire region ‘ capture three different faces of KwaZulu-Natal. From the mysticism of the Muthi Market to the New Age happenings in the Davenport district, and the old-world feel of the Midland Meander, this is where the Rainbow Nation does its shopping.

Muthi Market

For a glimpse into African traditional healing, take a stroll through this ramshackle marketplace that extends from around the Victoria Street Indian market, over the footbridges to the taxi ranks at Warwick Triangle.

This is Durban’s “witches’ market” and here you will see traditional medicine, or muthi, being made and prepared for sale. Then you will understand why this billion-rand industry attracts international pharmaceutical companies who are converging on the country to mine its rich botanical wealth and the knowledge of medicinal plant use that is the heritage of the sangomas (diviner) and inyangas (plant/medicine men and women) of Zulu culture.

Stalls are covered with organic ingredients that range from snakeskins to crocodile teeth and birds claws, plants as well as mysterious bright pink powders. To the thumping sound of bark and roots being pulverised in deep wooden dug-out containers, you can shop for car-tyre sandals, decorated walking sticks, magical talismans and African incense (impepho or wild sage).

Or you can consult a sangoma who will take you aside and ‘throw the bones’ ‘ a collection of bones, shells and maybe even a domino or two that are scattered on a reed mat ‘ to commune with the ancestors and spirit guides. Based on the outcome, he/she will prescribe the relevant treatment, which can range from ablutions to ointments to oral medicine or protection rituals. (more…)

You too can make a fresh, healthy meal that looks like you’re competing on Masterchef! This yoghurt marinated grilled chicken takes about 20 minutes to make and is an excellent meal for the last few weekends of summer. Remember to cook the chicken through, though - while you don’t want it tough, you also don’t want it underdone.

Ingredients

For the marinated grilled chicken:
1 cup low-fat or non-fat plain yogurt
Zest and juice of one lime
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup minced red onion
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 4 to 6 ounces each (more…)

A delicious feast

It’s a feast of colours and flavours: Ask any South African what his or her favourite food is, and you’ll be blown away by the diversity of local choices: A braai (barbeque) is a big favourite, with meats like lamb, beef, wors (a type of sausage) being piled high on plates. Koeksusters (a sweet treat made of deep fried dough and syrup) rank high, as does melktert, another desert made with a delicate milk custard.

Travels around the country will offer you indigenous delicacies like pap and gravy, bobotie, biltong (a dried and cured meat treat), curry and rice in various temperatures, roasted mielies (corn on the cob) and even peri-peri chicken livers.

Because South Africa has so many diverse nations making up its colourful culture, there’s little in the way of food that can’t be found here. If your delight is African, Portuguese, Indian, Italian, Asian, French or any other, you will find a meal that caters to you tastes. (more…)

Being physically fit enhances the quality and the length of our lives - but most of us believe that we just can’t seem to find the time to exercise. Strangely, there’s always time to lie in a hospital when low fitness levels and undiagnosed health issues cause major issues like heart attack or stroke! (more…)